Horse-detacher



No. 6|9,583. PatentedjF'eb. I4, |899.

A. KUPPEB.

HORSE DETACHER.

(Application led Feb-9, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l..

(No Model.)

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No. 6|9,583. Patented Feb. I4, |899.

n A. KUPPER.

HORSE DETAGHER.

(Application lod Feb. 9, 1898.)

(No Model.) y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNirED STATES PATEtrrA OFFICE.

AUGUST KUPPER, OF RHINELANDER,A WISCONSIN.

HORSE-DETACHER.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,583, dated February 14, 1899.

Application tiled February 9, 1898. lSerial No. 669,658. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST KUPPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rhinelander, in the county of Oneida and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse- Detachers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to horse-detachers; and the object in View is to provide, in connection with a doubletree and singletrees of a pole, means whereby the tugs or traces may be released fromA the singletrees by an appliance located adjacent to the dashboard of the vehicle and within easy reach of the driver.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to conceal the releasing apparatus, so that its presence on the vehicle is not discernible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a sufficient portion of a vehicle and the pole thereof to illustrate the application of the present improvements, the improved features being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of one of the singletrees with the upper portion of the singletree removed to show the interior parts. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a singletree, showing a modified construction. Fig. Llis asimilar view of the doubletree. Fig. 5 is adetail vertical section through the front of the vehicle, including the dashboard and connection between the dashboard and doubletree. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section through the same parts. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section takenadjacent to the point of connection between a singletree and doubletree. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the front end of the pole, showing the neck-yoke holder detached; and Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section through the neck-yoke-attaching device. Fig. 10 is a detail section on the linewa: of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the improved doubletree, which is divided on a horizontal line to form a lower section 2 and an upper section 3. One of these sections is hollowed out or channeled, as indicated at 4, to receive and permit the longitudinal movement of a flexible cord or connection which extends rearward from the doubletree and passes through a flexible tube 7, reaching from the doubletree to the dashboard, the said iiexible connection being secured to a thimble 8 on a coupling-plate 9, secured to the front of the dashboard. In rear of the plate 9 is a horizontally-journaled pulley or roller 10, around which the cord or connection 'passes. After passing around the pulley 10, the connection 6 extends around a drum or spindle l1, having a squared shank 12, extending through the dashboard and receiving a lever 13, within reach of the driver, who by operating said lever may draw upon the cord or connection 6 for the purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The connection b' is divided or siamesed at the point 14 to form oppositely-extending branches 15, the said branches passing around rollers 1 6 adjacent tothe center of the doubletree and around other rollers 17 at or near the ends of the doubletree where they enter the singletrees (indicated at 18) adjacent to the point of pivotal connection of the singletrees and doubletrees.

The singletree 18 is formed similarly to the doubletree, in that it consists of upper and lower parts or sections suitably connected and held together, one of the sections being provided with a groove or recess 19, in which one branch of the connection 6 is received. The branch of the connection, after entering the singletree, is bifnrcated or siamesed, as indicated at 20, and the branches thereof pass around rollers 21, arranged near the center of the singletree, and extend thence in opposite directionstoward the ends of the singletree, Where they connect with longitudinally-sliding dogs or catches 22. The grooves or recesses 23, in which the dogs move, are inter- IOO sected by transverse recesses or entrances 24, into which the hooks 25 on the ends of the traces are inserted. The hooks 25 are substantially square in cross-section where they enter the recesses or sockets in the singletrees and are each provid ed in one side with a notch or recess 27, into which the point or nose 28 of the dog springs when thrust in the proper direction by means of a spring 29, arranged in a recess 30 near the end of the whiffietree. The spring bears at its free end against a lateral extension 3l on the dog, so as to thrust the dog into engagement with its hook or block 25, the spring at the same time yielding to permit the withdrawal of the dog from the hook or block when drawn upon by the cord or connection. Each dog is also provided with a pendent finger-piece 32, by means of which it may be withdrawn independently of the fiexible connection 6 and the branches thereof.

In order to pivotally lnount the singletree, it is provided upon its upper side with a metal plate 33, which extends back to the end of the doubletree, where it connects pivotally to a plate 34 on the upper side of the doubletree, this arrangement admitting of the channeling or grooving of the singletree to receive the flexible connection by which the dogs are operated.

Instead of the construction hereinabove described the singletree may be mounted just above the end of the doubletree and have a depending tubular extension or cuff 35, provided at its lower end with a circumferential flange 36, operating between wear-plates 37, secured to the doubletree above and below said flange for steadying the singletree with relation to the doubletree. The branches of the fiexible connections 6 pass through said sections and upon entering the singletrees are bifurcated, as above described, whence the branches thereof extend over horizontallyjournaled pulleys 38 and thence in opposite directions toward the ends of the whiflietree. At its outer end each flexible connection or branch is attached to one arm of an elbowlever 39, the opposite arm of the lever being rounded, as indicated at 40, to engage the socket 4l of a dog 42, sliding in transverse recesses 43 in the end of the singletree. The recess 43 at its front end is wedge-shaped or has one oblique Wall 44, the front end of the dog occupying a portion of the enlarged front end of said recess. The hook or block on the trace is provided with a wedge-shaped extension of a size adapting it to snugly fit Within that portion of the recess 43 not occupied by the dog 42, so that when the dog is slid forward the wedge of the block is firmly held in place and prevented from escaping, and it is only when the dog is drawn backward that the block on the trace is permitted to escape. The dog is normally held forward by means of a spring 45, which presses against the elbow-lever above referred to, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The pole (indicated at 46) is provided at the front end and upon its upper side with a longitudinally-extending pocket 47 in which is received the shank 48 of a neck-yoke-attacl1 ing device. The body of this device (indicated at 49) is oblong in its form and provided with a central opening, in which fits the head 50 of a clip or coupling-piece 51, connected pivotally by means of a horizontal pivot 52 to the forward end of the shank 48. The body 49 is also provided in its opening with an annular shoulder 53, which coperates with the head 50 to prevent the displacement of the body 49. The shank 48 fits snugly in the pocket 47, but when the animals are released from the sin gletrees said shank slides forward out of engagement with the pocket, so that the neck-yoke is released at the same time with the animals.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operator sitting within the vehicle may by rocking the lever above de scribed draw upon the flexible connection in such manner as to operate the dogs and cause the latter to release the traces, thus detaching the animals from the vehicle, the neckyoke detaching itself as the horses leave the vehicle. By the special arrangement above described the horse-detaching apparatus does not interfere in the least with the proper swiveling of the double and single trees, and the presence of the apparatus is not noticeable.

The single and double trees hereinabove described, together with the detaching device, are connected to the running-gear of a vehicle in any usual or preferred manner, preferably by mounting the same on the tongue, which is connected to the front axle by the usual clips. The flexible tubular connection 7 enables the tongue to be raised and lowered without disarranging the device hereinabove described.

It will of course be understood that the horse-detaching d evice hereinabove described is susceptible of changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, which may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, -what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

l. In a horse detacher, the combination with a whiffletree and means thereon for engaging and releasing the traces, of a fiexible connection extending from the releasing devices to a point within reach of the driver, and a fiexible tube extending from the whiffietree to the body of the vehicle and forming a conduit for inclosing and protecting said flexible connection, substantially as described.

2. In a horse detacher, the combination with a trace connecting and releasing device on the whiffietree, of a flexible tube extending from the whiliietree to the body of a Vehicle, a flexible connection extending from the trace-releasing device through said flexi- ICO IZO

ble tube, guiding' means for said i'lexible connection, a drum or spindle journaled on the body of the vehicle and upon which the connection is Wound, and means for operating said drum or spindle, substantially as described.

3. In a horse-detacher, the combination with a trace engaging and releasing device on the Whiiletree, of a flexible tube extending from the Whiffletree to the body of the vehicle, a flexible connection extending from the trace-releasing devices passing through said flexible tube, guide-rollers for said exible connection, a drum or spindle on the body of the vehicle upon which the connection is Wound, and a lever for operating said drum or spindle, substantially as described.

4. In a horse-detacher, a Whifletree made in two parts suitably united, one of said parts being provided With grooves and Wedgeshaped recesses, sliding dogs mounted in said recesses and adapted to engage trace ,hooks or blocks having Wedge-shaped extensions, operating means for said dogs seated in the grooves and recesses therein, and springs for maintaining said dogs in engagement with the trace hooks or blocks, substantially as described.

5. The'combination with a tongue or pole carrying a pocket near its front end, of a neckyoke-attaching device consisting of a body portion and a shank pivotally connected to said body portion by a coupling or clip, the body portion being pivoted upon said coupling and the shank being slidingly and removably tted in the pocket on the tongue, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST KUPPER.

Witnesses:

J. M. I-IARRIGAN, D. JOHNSTON. 

